1. The Holy Spirit Protects the Gospel

2. What determines if you are a Christian? What determines whether a person is right with God? What determines whether a person is in God’s family?

3. Gospel Advancing/Trouble Brewing Acts 1-10 Jews are believing in Jesus Acts 11-14 Gentiles are believing in Jesus Acts 15:1 Two cultures are on a collision course.

4. Acts 15:1–2 1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

5. The Debate – How is a person Saved? Acts 15:5 Judaizers – Jesus + Jewishness Acts 15:6-11Peter – saved through grace Acts 15:12 Paul and Barnabas – what Peter said Acts 15:13-18 James compares experience with Scripture

6. Acts 15:28-29 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

7. Gospel Corrects Opposing Errors Legalism – Saved by Jesus plus works. o Works add nothing (Galatians 1:6-9 & 3:2) o Traditions add nothing (Galatians 5:12) Antinomianism – Saved by Jesus so I don’t work. o No works call into question whether faith is real. (James 2:17) o Life ruled by sin calls into question whether faith is real. (Galatians 5:21)

8. Gospel Obedience I am saved by faith in Jesus alone therefore I obey. Romans 3:27-31 Galatians 5:16-25 Ephesians 5:1-12 Philippians 1:27 Colossians 3:1-17 Hebrews 12:1-2 James 2:14-26 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 2 Peter 1:3-9 1 John 2:1-6